Empirical Study of Commuting Behaviour of Commercial Public Transport Passengers in Lagos Metropolis
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
- To critically analyze travel behavior of commercial public transport passengers plying Oshodi-Mile 2 Route, Oshodi-Sango Ota Routes, Oshodi-Ajah Routes, Oshodi-Obalende Routes.
- To explore factors influencing travel behavior of passengers along Oshodi and Sundry Routes.
- To examine the influence of education on travel behaviour of passengers.
- To stem the tide of traffic congestion, road crashes and environmental pollution along Oshodi-Mile 2 Route, Oshodi-Sango Ota Routes, Oshodi-Ajah Routes, Oshodi-Obalende Routes.
- To streamline and effect good travel behaviour among passengers in Oshodi and Sundry Routes.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL
Literature Review
Bus Rapid Transit as Transportation mode Factors Influencing Travel Behavior. The factors that influence decision of travel, according to Button, K.J. (1993) in Sunarto, (2009) for travelers or passengers and company are different. For travelers there are four factors which influence the travelers in choosing the mode of transport. These are trips time, financial cost, frequency and quality of service.
Factors Decision of Travel (Button, 1993). In Heye &Timpf (2003) and Bovy and Stern (1990) there are three objective factors: the physical environment, the socio-demographic environment, and normative environment factors. In addition, a subjective factor influences the travelers perception of the three objective factors. In route choice, the physical environment has the largest influence. The same is true for route descriptions or route instructions: the physical environment in the form of landmarks plays the most important role in giving good route instructions (Denis 1997).
The influence of socioeconomic issues and mode-related variables are examined using discrete choice analysis. Traveler modal choice is generally explained by three basic factors: characteristics of the journey e.g., length, time of day, and purpose, the socioeconomic characteristics of the traveler, and the transport system (ThamizhArasan et al. 1996). Other literatures identifies added characteristics of the trip itself, land use, and urban design (Racca & Ratledge 2004). (Hansen, 1972) Systematic differences in consumer behaviors based upon socioeconomic and demographic variables may also be studied. It is possible that consumers of different ages or consumers belonging to different social classes differ in their conceptual structures to such an extent that segmentation by means of these criteria is more useful than any kind of segmentation based upon personality tests. Consumer types such as innovators and opinion leaders are also important.
The differences in consumer value structures in that area of interest are those which explain variations in choice behavior. This value may be inferred from observation of behavioral differences, that is, underlying differences in conceptual structures may be revealed by systematic differences observed in consumer behavior.
A research about factors influencing the travel mode choice in Sweden by Wallstrom (1978) mentioned that different purposes (work/school) showed different results. Thus the division into different purposes can be regarded and clearly motivated. Furthermore, the significant variable based on the research results are (a) Choice between car/ public transport e.g. Bus waiting time, one of the different cost variables, sex, bus interchange time, the need of car while at work, monthly season ticket bus, parking charge (the wrong sign); b. Choice between car/ bicycle e.g. car demand ratio, the need of car while at work, parking charge; c. Choice between bicycle/ public transport e.g. sex, straight line distance, monthly season ticket (bus), bus interchange time and for other purposes (a. Choice between car/ public transport (e.g. Bus waiting time, occupation, monthly season ticket (bus));b. Choice between bicycle/ public transport (e.g. Straight line distance, sex, bus waiting time, occupation, walking time ratio).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
A research design describes the techniques and procedures used by the researcher in conducting the study. It also contains the process of collecting, collating and analyzing data involved in the course of the study. It comprises of the description of the population of the study, sampling techniques, sample size, sources of data, procedure of data collection and procedure of data analysis and the testing of null hypothesis with a view to give logical answers to the research questions that were formulated at the beginning of the study. The research design was tailored to meet the objectives of the study using relevant and appropriate statistical and scientific procedures. For this study, the descriptive survey research design was applied. This was possible through the involvement of sampling of the opinions of the eligible respondents that can proffer the required answer to the questions of interest to the researcher.
Population of Study
The target population of the study comprised all the commuters or passengers that use the commercial buses as means of transportation constituted the population for the study due to the fact that passengers and drivers are all eligible to be part of the sample size in the study, as a result of this very large population since the use of buses as business has obtained a wide recognition in virtually every state of the Federation of Nigeria, it means that all who use the commercial buses for business and for methods of transportation in Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State, make up the population for the study. The study population also comprises of all road users and passengers of commercial buses plying Oshodi to Mile 2, Oshodi to Obalende, Oshodi to Ajah, Oshodi to Sango and Oshodi to Abeokuta routes. The population boundary is fixed and described by the characteristics of individual members comprising it as well as the nature of the variable being studied (Baridan, 1990:74).The sample size used for analysis is 84.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Introduction
This chapter gives detailed of how the data were collected, analyzed and examined according to research questions, hypotheses and discussion of results. The analysis centers on the research instrument, which is structured to reflect the purpose and objectives of this study.
All necessary data table were analyzed in relation to the respondent from the questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested and the result of the analysis provides the basic for findings, conclusion and recommendations.
Analysis of Respondents Questionnaires
Out of the Hundred (100) questionnaires distributed to the respondents, Eighty-four (84) were effectively filled and returned which represent eighty-four percent (84%) of the total respondents.
The above table analysis indicates that 6 respondents representing 7.1% paid less than N50 as transport fare, 32 respondent representing 38.1% paid the sum of N50-N100, while 24 respondents representing 28.6% falls within the range of N101-N150 as fare, 17 respondents representing 20.2% also paid the sum ranging from N151-N200 as fare. The other 5 respondents representing 6% paid the sum of N201 and above as fare.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the Study
The study examined commuting behaviour of commercial public transport passengers in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study made use of relevant and extensive review of literatures based on researchers’ and scholars’ opinions.
The descriptive research survey was used in order to assess the opinions of the respondents using the questionnaire. A total of 84 samples were used as representative population, while three null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significant. The results that were obtained indicated that a positive correlation exists between frequency of travels and commuters’ income in Lagos State, Nigeria and that a positive correlation exists between frequency of travels and distance covered by commuters in Lagos State, Nigeria.
The effects of certain attributes based on the findings from the study revealed that in choosing a commercial vehicle, commuters generally took into consideration their safety, travel distance comfort and waiting time before making their choices.
Generally, safety is highly valued by commuters, followed by travel distance comfort, and less waiting time for vehicles at bus stop.
Commuters’ choice of commercial vehicles generally decreases with an increase of transport fare.
However, generally, there is difference in the choice of commercial vehicle by trip purposes (commuting and non-commuting trips).
The findings of this study may be used by transport operators and policy-makers to formulate strategies for the improvement of public transport to attract private car users in order to resort to the use of public transport; this will help reduce road congestion/traffic situation in urban areas of Lagos especially Oshodi road corridor.
This is because of long in-vehicle time, bad seat, and untidy bus, lack of safety measures, overloading, traffic congestion and poor maintenance of buses by bus operators.
Conclusion
Based on the results that emerged at the end of the data analyses, it was concluded that there is a correlation between frequency of travels and commuters’ incomes in Lagos State, Nigeria and that there is a correlation between frequency of travels and distance covered by commuters in Lagos State, Nigeria. This further indicates that commuters’ frequency of travels is determined by their level of income in Lagos State and that there is a correlation between frequency of travels and the distances covered by the commuters in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Recommendations
Based on the data analyses and the conclusions reached in this study, the following recommendations were made: The Authorities, Policy Makers and Transport Authorities should carry out the followings:
- Evolve strategies for improving personal security.
- Provide alternative work schedule such as flex time, compressed work week and staggered shifts.
- Introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems to provide high quality bus service on busy urban corridors.
- Evolve strategies for introduction and improving bicycle transport to augment bus transport.
- Introduce vehicle rental services that substitute for private vehicle ownership.
- Invent flexible daily work schedules.
- An occasional subsidized ride home for commuters who use alternative modes.
- Introduction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems to provide convenient local transit service on busy urban corridors.
- Planning for walking, cycling and their variants.
- Introduction of best practices for managing non-motorized facilities such as walkways, sidewalks and paths.
- Encourage carpooling and van pooling.
- Introduction of shuttle buses, jitneys and free transit zones.
- Accommodating wheeled luggage’s, skates, scooters and hand carts should be encouraged.
- Improved taxi services should be put in place in the state.
- Use of telecommunication as a substitute for physical travel should be encouraged in the state.
- Introduction and improvement of roadway designs that reduce vehicle traffic speeds and volumes.
- Introduction of Transport systems that accommodate all users including people with disabilities and other special needs should be in existence in the state.
- Commuters’ financial incentives such as parking cash out, travel allowance, transit and rideshare benefits should be invented in the state.
- Congestion pricing variable, road pricing used to reduce peak-period vehicle trips.
- Vehicle fees and taxes based on a vehicle’s mileage.
- Evolve strategies that give transit and rideshare vehicles priority over other traffic.
- Charging motorists directly for parking.
- Converting vehicle insurance premiums into distance-based fees
- Introduction of congestion pricing, value pricing, road tolls and HOT lanes.
- Roadway design and management practices that favor efficient modes.
- Introduce strategies to reduce traffic speeds.
- Limiting vehicle traffic at a particular time and place.
- There should be evolution of strategies to reduce automobile travel at particular times and places and create pedestrian-oriented streets in the state.
- There should be creation of g more connected road networks and path ways in the .state.
- There should be location of common destinations close together to increase accessibility and transport diversity in the state.
- There should be provision of customized directions to a particular destination by various modes.
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